SENSOR MOUNTED ON AN ELECTRONIC BOARD

Abstract

The present invention relates to electrical equipment (1), comprising: - a substantially flat electronic board (2) having a first face (4) and a second face (6), the first and second faces (4, 6) being parallel, the first face (4) of the electronic board (2) or the second face (5) comprising at least one electrically conductive track; - a sensor (8) comprising several pins (10), the sensor (8) being mounted on the second face (6) of the electronic board (2), said pins (10) being bent so as to be in contact with the electrically conductive track; characterized in that the sensor (8) is provided with a housing (14) configured to receive the sensor (8) in a recess (16) delimited by the housing (14), the housing (14) further comprising a positioning element (18) for holding the housing (14) and the sensor (8) on the electronic board (2). Figure 6

Description

Title of the invention: SENSOR MOUNTED ON AN ELECTRONIC BOARD TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of electric or hybrid vehicles.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to electrical equipment fitted with a sensor for such an electric or hybrid vehicle. STATE OF THE ART

[0003] As is known, an electric or hybrid motor vehicle has an electric drive system comprising an electric motor (i.e., a rotating electrical machine) which must be supplied with electrical energy, for example from a high-voltage battery, to provide mechanical power to propel the vehicle. The electric motor comprises a stator, i.e., a stationary part of the electric motor, and a rotor, i.e., a rotating part of the electric motor. The electric drive system further includes an inverter configured to convert a direct current voltage from a high-voltage battery into an alternating current voltage to supply the stator of the electric motor with the alternating current voltage.

[0004] Current practices involve mounting sensors on electronic boards by soldering their pins directly onto conductive traces. Adhesive materials can also be used, although these methods are prone to reliability issues, complicating assembly processes and limiting the possibilities for reuse or repair. This conventional approach lacks an efficient means of securely positioning the sensors while maintaining electrical connectivity, often resulting in alignment problems, unreliable contact, and difficulties in mass production due to manual handling requirements. A sensor comprising a housing is known, with the sensor inserted into a housing delimited by the housing. However, current housings cannot absorb sufficient force and, in the event of an impact, do not effectively protect the housed sensor.

[0005] It is always difficult to efficiently mount sensors on electronic boards while ensuring a strong mechanical attachment, precise alignment, and reliable electrical connectivity. Conventional methods based on soldering or adhesives often compromise ease of assembly, rework flexibility, and overall reliability. Furthermore, the lack of standardized procedures for sensor integration leads to inconsistencies in manufacturing, which hinders The efficiency of mass production is compromised, and production costs are likely to increase. Therefore, there is a need for an improved method and device for mounting sensors on electronic boards and protecting these sensors, for example, against impact. Summary of the invention

[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, an electrical equipment is proposed comprising: - a substantially flat electronic card comprising a first face and a second face, the first and second faces being parallel, the first face or the second face (5) of the electronic card comprising at least one electrically conductive track; - a sensor comprising several pins, the sensor being mounted on the second side of the electronic board, said pins being bent so as to be in contact with the electrically conductive track;

[0007] The electrical equipment is remarkable in that the sensor is provided with a housing configured to receive the sensor in a housing delimited by the housing, the housing further comprising a positioning element allowing the housing and the sensor to be held on the electronic board.

[0008] By combining these features, the sensor is fixed by means of such a housing with such positioning elements, which ensures stable sensor placement. Thus, the risk of the sensor becoming dislodged or shifting during operation, transport, or due to vibrations is considerably reduced. With such positioning elements, alignment of the housing on the electronic board is also simpler, which speeds up the assembly of the electrical equipment.

[0009] Advantageously, the positioning element passes through a second hole provided in the electronic board. The second hole can extend between the first and second sides of the electronic board.

[0010] Advantageously, the housing comprises two positioning elements. The pins can be located between the two positioning elements, in particular in a transverse direction parallel to the first face or the second face.

[0011] According to another aspect, the housing includes a contact portion configured to bear against the second side of the electronic board. Thus, the housing exerts greater pressure on the sensor pins, ensuring contact between these pins and the conductive track on the first side of the electronic board. The contact portion may be flat. The contact portion may be continuous.

[0012] Advantageously, the contact portion comprises a plurality of retaining elements projecting from the housing. By increasing the contact area between the housing and the second face of the electronic board, the stability of the housing is improved, notably protecting the sensor from stresses applied parallel to the faces of the electronic board.

[0013] Advantageously, the sensor comprises a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The first lateral side and the second lateral side may be located on either side of a plane perpendicular to the first surface of the electronic board and passing through at least the positioning element. The housing may comprise at least one retaining element on each lateral side. For example, two on the first lateral side and one on the second lateral side.

[0014] Advantageously, the sensor comprises two pins on each lateral side. On the first lateral face, the two pins can be located between two retaining elements. On the second lateral face, the retaining elements can be located between the two pins.

[0015] According to a first embodiment, at least one electrically conductive track is located on the first face. The sensor pins pass through a first hole that extends between the first and second faces of the electronic board.

[0016] Advantageously, the first trough hole and the second through-holes of the electronic board are aligned. Preferably, the first trough hole is located between the second through-holes of the electronic board. The positioning elements are thus arranged on either side of the sensor, which particularly protects the sensor from torsional stresses. Preferably, the alignment of the through-holes is perpendicular to the protrusion of the retaining elements. Thus, the sensor is protected against stresses from all directions.

[0017] According to a second embodiment, at least one electrically conductive track is located on the second face. The retaining elements and the pins are in contact with the same surface of the electronic board, the second surface.

[0018] Advantageously, guide grooves are formed in the housing, these grooves being configured to guide the sensor pins. The guide grooves facilitate the correct insertion and alignment of the sensor pins in the housing, simplifying assembly and reducing the risk of damage during installation. The sensor may have one guide groove per pin. This ensures proper alignment between the pins and the electrically conductive tracks. Only the sensor pins may pass through the guide grooves.

[0019] Advantageously, bulges are formed in the housing, these bulges being configured to retain the sensor within the housing. The bulges add an additional retention layer, further securing the sensor within the housing, minimizing The risks of dislodgement, particularly due to stress from a direction perpendicular to the faces of the electronic board. The bulges may be below the grooves relative to the electronic board. The bulges are in contact with only one body of the sensor. The bulges are not in contact with the pins.

[0020] Advantageously, the casing is made of plastic.

[0021] Advantageously, the positioning elements comprise rivets, each rivet having a head configured to be stamped onto the first side of the circuit board to secure the housing and the sensor to the circuit board. Alternatively, the positioning elements may comprise a solder pad inserted between the contact portion of the housing and the second side of the circuit board. Brief description of the drawings

[0022] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments of the invention, provided by way of non-limiting examples for implementing various aspects of the invention. The description refers to the accompanying figures, which also illustrate, by way of example, one embodiment of the invention: - Fig. 1 shows an isometric view of a first assembly stage of electrical equipment according to a first embodiment of the present invention; - Fig. 2 shows an isometric view of a second stage of assembly of the electrical equipment of Fig. 1; - Fig. 3 shows an isometric view of a sensor in a housing according to another aspect of the invention; - Fig. 4 shows an isometric view of the assembly step of Fig. 3 - Figure 5 shows an isometric view of a fourth assembly step of the electrical equipment of the [Fig.1]. - Figure 6 shows an isometric view of the sensor according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and - Fig. 7 shows a top view of the sensor in Fig. 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] With reference to [Fig. 1], an electrical component 1 is provided during a first assembly step according to a first embodiment of the invention. The electrical component 1 comprises a substantially flat electronic board 2. The electronic board 2 extends parallel to a horizontal plane X, Y.

[0024] The electronic card 2 comprises a first face 4 and a second face 6. The first face 4 and the second face 6 of the electronic board are both parallel to the horizontal X, Y plane. In the first embodiment, the first face 4 of the electronic board 2 includes at least one conductive track (not shown), so the electronic board 2 is commonly referred to as a printed circuit board.

[0025] The electrical equipment 1 further includes a sensor 8. The sensor 8 includes a plurality of pins 10. The sensor 8 is configured to be mounted on the electronic board 2. To do this, a first trough hole 12 is provided in the electronic board 2, between the first face 4 and the second face 6, along a vertical direction, parallel to a vertical axis Z.

[0026] As shown in [Fig. 2], during a second assembly step, the sensor 8 is inserted into the through hole 12. The pins 10 pass through the first through hole 12 and are bent to make contact with the conductive track of the first face 4. The pins 10 are then soldered to the conductive track. Here, the pins 10 are bent before the sensor is inserted through the first through hole 12. The sensor 8 is preferably a Hall effect sensor, configured to detect the presence and amplitude of a magnetic field using the Hall effect.

[0027] As shown in [Fig. 3], the sensor 8 is fitted with a housing 14. The housing 14 is configured to receive the sensor 8 in a housing 16 delimited by the housing 14. The housing 14 is configured to protect the sensor 8 from mechanical stresses, for example in the event of an impact, or those caused by vibrations. The housing 14 includes a contact portion 22, extending parallel to the second face 6 of the electronic board 2. The contact portion 22 is configured to bear against the second face 6 of the electronic board 2, so that the housing 14 is in direct contact with the electronic board 2. The contact portion 22 includes a plurality of retaining elements 24, projecting from the housing 14. Thanks to the retaining elements 24, the stability of the housing 14 is improved, notably protecting the sensor 8 from stresses applied parallel to the faces 4, 6 of the electronic board 2.Here, the housing includes an even number of retaining elements 24, on either side of the housing 14 along a longitudinal direction X, to protect the sensor 8 in both directions along the longitudinal direction X. The alignment of the through holes 12, 20 is preferably perpendicular to the projection of the retaining elements 24. Thus, the sensor 8 is protected against mechanical stresses coming from all directions.

[0028] In the first embodiment, the sensor is mounted on the electronic board from the top and the housing is mounted on the other side with respect to the vertical direction.

[0029] As shown more clearly in [Fig.3], a plurality of bulges 28 are formed in the housing 16 of the envelope 14. The bulges 28 are configured to retain the sensor 8 in the housing 16 of the envelope 14. The bulges add an additional layer of retention, further securing the sensor 8 in the housing 14, minimizing the risks of dislodgement, particularly due to stress from a direction perpendicular to the faces 4,6 of the electronic board 2, along the vertical direction Z.

[0030] Once the sensor 8 is inserted into the housing 14 and mounted on the electronic board 2 by passing the positioning elements 18 through the second through holes 20 as can be seen in [Fig. 4], the positioning elements 18 are configured to fix the housing 14 onto the electronic board 2. In a preferred embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 5], the positioning elements 18 therefore include rivets 30. Each rivet 30 includes a head configured to be stamped onto the first face 4 of the electronic board 2 in order to fix the housing 14 and the sensor 8 onto the electronic board 2.

[0031] The housing 14 therefore includes positioning elements 18. In the described embodiment, the housing 14 includes two positioning elements 18, configured to mount the housing 14 on the electronic board 2. Thus, the positioning elements 18 pass through second through holes 20 provided between the first face 4 and the second face 6 of the electronic board 2 so as to hold the housing 14 and the sensor 8 on the electronic board 2. The second through holes 20 are provided along a vertical direction, parallel to a vertical axis Z.

[0032] By combining these features, the sensor 8 is fixed by such a housing 14 with such positioning elements 18, ensuring stable placement of the sensor 8 on the electronic board 2. Thus, the risk of dislodging or displacement of the sensor 8 during operation, transport, or due to vibrations is considerably reduced. With such positioning elements 18, the alignment of the housing 14 on the electronic board 2 is also simpler, which speeds up the assembly of the electrical equipment 1. The housing 14 is preferably made of plastic, but any other material capable of absorbing mechanical stresses and not interfering with the measurements of the sensor 8 is suitable. The positioning elements 18 may be formed as a single piece with the housing 14, or may be composed of attached parts.

[0033] Here, the first trough hole 12 and the second through-holes 20 of the electronic board 2 are aligned. Preferably, the first through-hole 12 is located between the second through-holes 20 of the electronic board 2. Thus, the positioning elements 18 are arranged on either side of the sensor 8 along the direction transverse Y, protecting in particular sensor 8 from torsional and transverse stresses.

[0034] In the embodiment described in figures 6 and 7 according to the second embodiment, the conductive track is located on the second face 6. The retaining elements 24 and the pins 10 are in contact with the same surface of the electronic board, the second surface 6.

[0035] Here, the housing comprises an odd number of retaining elements 24. The sensor 8 comprises a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The first lateral side and the second lateral side may be located on either side of a plane perpendicular to the first surface 4 of the electronic board and passing through at least one positioning element 18. The housing 14 comprises at least one retaining element 24 on each lateral side. Here, two on the first lateral side and one on the second lateral side. The sensor 8 comprises two pins 10 on each lateral side. On the first lateral side, the two pins 10 are located between two retaining elements 24. On the second lateral side, the retaining elements 24 are located between the two pins 10.

[0036] In the housing illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, guide grooves 26 are formed in the housing 16. The guide grooves 26 are configured to guide the pins 10 of the sensor 8. The guide grooves 26 facilitate the insertion and alignment of the pins 10 of the sensor 8 in the housing 14, which simplifies assembly and reduces the risk of damage during installation. The pins 10 are preferably clamped in the guide grooves 26, which improves the retention of the sensor 8.

[0037] The present invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments. The description and the drawings are intended to facilitate understanding of the invention, rather than to limit its scope. It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the invention described herein, and these modifications are deemed to be covered by this description. The invention is defined by the following claims.

Claims

Demands

1. Electrical equipment (1), comprising: - a substantially flat electronic board (2) comprising a first face (4) and a second face (6), the first and second faces (4,6) being parallel, the first face (4) of the electronic board (2) or the second face (5) comprising at least one electrically conductive track; - a sensor (8) comprising several pins (10), the sensor (8) being mounted on the second face (6) of the electronic board (2), said pins (10) being bent so as to be in contact with the electrically conductive track; characterized in that the sensor (8) is provided with a housing (14) configured to receive the sensor (8) in a housing (16) delimited by the housing (14), the housing (14) further comprising a positioning element (18) for holding the housing (14) and the sensor (8) on the electronic board (2).

2. Electrical equipment (1) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (14) includes a contact part (22) configured to bear against the second face (6) of the electronic board (2).

3. Electrical equipment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 2 and 3, wherein the contact part (22) comprises a plurality of retaining elements (24) projecting from the housing (14)

4. Electrical equipment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said positioning element (18) passing through the second through hole (20) provided in the electronic board, extends in particular between the first face (4) and the second face (6) of the electronic board (2).

5. Electrical equipment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one electrically conductive track is located on the first face and said sensor pins pass through a first trough hole (12) extending between the first face (4) and the second face (6) of the electronic board (2).

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10. Electrical equipment (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one electrically conductive track is located on the second face. Electrical equipment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein guide grooves (26) are formed in the housing (16) of the housing (14), said grooves being configured to guide the pins (10) of the sensor (8). Electrical equipment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein bulges (28) are formed in the housing (16) of the casing (14), said bulges (28) being configured to retain the sensor (8) in the casing (14). Electrical equipment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (14) is made of plastic. Electrical equipment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the positioning elements (18) include rivets (30), each rivet (30) comprising a head configured to be stamped onto the first face (4) of the electronic board (2) in order to hold the housing (14) and the sensor (8) onto the electronic board (2).

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